The District of Columbia Board of Barber and Cosmetology is proud to announce that its Chair, Vera Winfield, will preside over the National Association of Barber Boards of America’s (NABBA) 82nd Annual Conference, to be held in Washington, DC, beginning this weekend.

Ms. Winfield was elected to serve as the first African-American female President of NABBA at last year’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida. The DC Council has declared next week National Association of Barber Boards of America Week in the District of Columbia.

Ms. Winfield has served as the first female Chair of the District of Columbia Board of Barber and Cosmetology since 1998.  As Chair, she worked diligently with members and staff to update and establish the 2003 District of Columbia Barber and Cosmetology Rules and Regulations.  She was also an integral force in spearheading the 2nd Annual Regulatory Forum in the District of Columbia focusing on braiding and proposed tattoo regulations.

This will be only the second time in its 82 year history that NABBA will hold its conference in the nation’s capital.

The event will be held at the Doubletree Washington Hotel, 1515 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, from September 13-18. The theme of this year’s conference, "Pride, Partnership and Perseverance," will be at the heart of workshops and seminars focusing on topics that are relevant to the current status of affairs for the barbering industry. Among the highlights will be tributes to:  the art of shaving, the Honorable Walter E. Fauntroy, Nat Mathis and his contributions to the Smithsonian, and much more.

The tonsorial arts have been a tradition in the United States of America since its inception and NABBA represents over 300,000 barbers, the icon of the independent business person. Presently there are over 110 active appointed state board members, officers, administrators, and related industry partner members that work with NABBA to maintain the barber profession standards and policies.

Ms. Winfield, a local barber for 20 years, is the proud owner of Vera’s Barber Shop in Northwest DC for the past 15 years. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Winfield served as the first “Black Family Day” platform barber artist as a member of “The Armstrong Dream Team”; she serves as a role model for disadvantaged youth at H.D. Woodson H.S. and others who are considering a career in barbering; she is an advocate for health and safety practices on Fox 5 news & WOL Radio. Ms Winfield was also recognized by USA Today as “A Woman Ahead of Her Time.” She is currently spearheading the 2008 initiative to make the Barber Pole a U.S. Postage Stamp.
 
Ms Winfield is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of both Woodrow Wilson High School and Howard University. She has been an active member of Second New St. Paul Baptist Church for 30 years and Chair of the Woodridge Warriors Youth Organization in Ward 5. Ms. Winfield is also a surrogate parent to three nieces. She enjoys fishing, the arts and dogs.

The District of Columbia Board of Barber and Cosmetology is an 11-member Board consisting of industry and public members appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia based on their abilities, experience, and interest in serving the public. The Board is responsible for promulgating rules and regulations on licensing requirements and other issues, establishing fees, deciding disciplinary action against licensees, and setting policy for support staff.

The Board meets the first (1st) working Monday of every month from 10 am - 12 noon in room 7237 of the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs headquarters at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20002.

For more information, please contact Staci Mason at (202) 442-4320.

The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs protects the health, safety, economic interests, and quality of life of residents, businesses, and visitors in the District of Columbia by issuing licenses and permits, conducting inspections, enforcing building, housing, and safety codes, regulating land use and development, and providing consumer education and advocacy services.